I can now share 60 second videos with the new Instagram which is great. no more rants… for now. A lot has happened since then. Some of which will surface at another time, but for now i’d like to start sharing more of this underwater art and process.

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee

Be water, my friend

For how much time it takes to prepare for only about a minute of glory and how physically demanding the process actually is, I have decided to treat this work like any performance art. And as a living sculpture that dies after 60 seconds there are many things to consider before, during, and post-production.

Ultimately my goal is to create an underwater painting that changes over time all in one take (like the one above with no editing) which requires a conscious awareness of one’s body and even a bit of choreography like any dance routine. fluid movements when working with the paint and camera are necessary to avoid turbulence. Any subtle vibrations from hitting the tank or even stepping too hard on the floor is noticeable and as a viewer and removes you from the experience. The camera focus set to just the right spot for the drop has been another issue along with small bubbles, running water droplets, and debris. The lighting design itself and finding ways to not cast any shadows. The viscosity of the paint and ink. And the velocity in which the paint is dropped into the tank and shift in gravity once it’s submerged. I also started priming the water with a little white acrylic paint which seems to add atmosphere and volume to the paint / ink while eliminating the visible tank walls and random floating particles.

I think as my technique evolves I will be ready to upgrade my camera + lens for better quality, but overall this has just been an interesting art form. One that has been creatively challenging, inspiring, and simply just exciting to play around with. But also one that I’m trying to justify with the drought and all. Using recycled bath or shower water does help alleviate some of the guilt… all things to consider moving forward.

The music is also something new that I’m working on playing a sample from an 1958 educational documentary about climate change called “The Unchained Goddess“, hence the title.

More liquid art studies to come… if you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me.